Nantucket Official Guide 2014-2015 | Page 50

Fall on Nantucket, September - November 2014

©Michael Galvin

The fall months on Nantucket offer a true respite after the busy summer season.
The island’s natural beauty takes center stage, highlighted by crimson-colored landscapes,
dramatic surf and sunsets and crisp, cool days.

Fall is one of Nantucket’s best-kept secrets.
This season is an ideal time to visit, as summer
crowds have dispersed and the island basks in
spectacular weather that encourages outdoor
pursuits. Nantucket is located along the Gulf
Stream, bringing continued warm temperatures
in the fall when the island’s natural beauty is at
its height, showcased by crimson moors,
dramatic surf, and breathtaking sunsets.
It’s the perfect time to stroll near-deserted
beaches, bike along our many scenic paths, or
join a guided walking tour that meanders
through secluded byways, replete with
historical tidbits and little-known island trivia.
Foodies, nature lovers, birders, sports
enthusiasts, history buffs and patrons of the
Arts will delight in myriad activities and events,
including art exhibitions, theater productions,
the many-faceted Nantucket Arts Festival
(September 30 - October 6), and a flurry of
antiques auctions. Nantucket Restaurant Week

48 • 2014 Official Guide to Nantucket

(September 29 - October 5) invites residents
and visitors alike to indulge in outstanding food
and wine in celebrated island establishments
offering special three-course menus and
pricing. Other fall events include the Nantucket
County Fair, Maritime Festival – heralding the
start of Nantucket’s famous scallop season –
Nantucket Historical Association’s Historic
Harvest Fair, and the Conservation Foundation’s
ever-popular Cranberry Harvest Festival.
Interestingly, the Windswept Bog on Milestone
Road was once the world’s largest natural
cranberry bog. In 1959, intensive efforts to
conserve water resources resulted in the
construction of a complex network of ditches
and dikes that subdivide the bog into smaller
and more water-efficient units. Arts, berries,
biking, birds and more – there’s truly something
for everyone to enjoy during this season
of splendor.